Switching assembly



1956 M. c. CARLSON swucnzmc ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 9, 1954 \NSULATION husuLA lord IHWIII IN VEN TOR. gt b/mz/ INEULATLQN \NBULATION Jan. 17, 1956 M. c. CARLSON 2,731,531

SWITCHING ASSEMBLY Filed June 9, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVEN TOR.

Win/2m 552/1 5011 BY M F QMMQ United States Patent Ofilice 2,731,531 Patented Jan. 17, 1956 SWITCHING ASSEMBLY Marvin C. Carlson, Valparaiso, Ind., assignor to MeGill Manufacturing Company, Inc., Valparaiso, Ind, a corporation of Indiana Application June 9, 1954, Serial No. 435,599

Claims. (Cl. 200-153) The present invention relates to an improved switching assembly for use in an electrical circuit; and the invention is directed more particularly to an extremely rugged electrical switching assembly which is suitable for use, for example, in the ignition circuit of a gasoline engine, or the like.

It is the usual practice for the ignition system of a gasoline powered lawn mower to utilize a magneto, and the ignition switch of such a system includes a shorting bar connected to the high tension side of the system to shut oft the engine. The requirement for a simple and rugged switch for this particular purpose has long been realized. The improved switching assembly of the present invention is particularly suited for such a purpose. However, the assembly is not limited to that particular field alone, but is ideally suited to any use that requires a simple and rugged switch.

lt is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide an improved and rugged switching assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an improved switching assembly that requires a minimum of components and which may be manufactured conveniently and economically.

A feature of the invention is the provision of an improved switching assembly which includes a fiat electrically conductive member rotatably mounted in an open ing in a second flat electrically conductive member and in electrical contact therewith. The rotatably mounted member has an aperture therein which is eccentrically disposed relative to the axis of rotation thereof, and a stationary electrical contact is disposed within the aperture. With this simple arrangement, rotation of the rotatable me: ber causes the stationary contact selectively to engage that member and establish electrical contact therewith.

The above and other features of the invention which are believed to be new are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are schematic representations of the switching assembly of the invention, respectively showing this assembly in two different operating positions,

Figure 3 is exploded view of one embodiment of the switching assembly,

Figure 4 shows the embodiment of Figure 3 in' assembled form,

Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the switching assembly,

Figure 6 shows the switching assembly of the invention incorporated into a power lawn-mower, and

Figure 7 is a schematic representation of the magneto portion of the electrical ignition system of-the power mower.

The invention provides a switching assembly which comprises an electrically conductive body portion having an opening therein, and an electrically conductive member rotatably mounted within the opening and in electrical contact with the body portion. The rotatably mounted member has an aperture therein eccentrieally positioned with respect to the axis of rotation thereof. A stationary electrically conductive contact member is disposed within the aperture in the rotatably mounted member, and the contact member contacts the rotatably mounted member when the latter is in a first angular position but is out of electrical contact therewith when the rotatably mounted member is in a second angular position.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the switching assembly of the present invention includes a flat electrically conductive metallic body portion 10, having a substantially circular opening 11 therein which extends through the top edge of the body portion, Body portion 10' also has a pair of opposing aligned notches 12-13 formed adjacent opening 11 and communicating with the opening, with these notches being adjacent the side of the opening remote from the open top edge of portion 10. A fiat resilient spring member 14 is disposed in notches (3-13, and this member extends across opening 11 ndjacentthe aforementioned remote side thereof. The latter side of opening 1.1 may be flat, as illustrated, and spaced from spring 14 a sufficient distance to allow for the resilient movement of the spring.

Theassembly also includes a fiat electrically conductive metallic member 15, and this member has a disc-shaped portion 16 rotatably disposed within opening 11 in the plane of body portion 10. Member 15 also has a lever portion 1'7 extending outwardly through the open top edge of body portion 19 in the plane of the body portion. The disc shaped portion 16 rotatably engages the side or bore of opening 11, and this portion is in electrical contact with body portion 10. Portion 16 has a pair of flat edges 18-19, which are angularly disposed with respect to one another and which respectively engage the resilient spring member 14 upon rotation of portion 16. This causes the spring to retain member 15 either in a first angular position, as shown in Figure 1, or in a second angular position such as shown in Figure 2, and the member can be actuated from one to the other of these positions by the manual operation of lever 17.

Disc-shaped portion 15 has an aperture 20 therein, which is eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis of rotation of that portion within opening 11. A stationary electrical Contact 21 is disposed in aperture 20, and the arrangement is such that when member 15 is in the position shown in Figure 1, contact 21 is concentrically disposed within aperture 20 and out of electrical contact with member 15. However, when member 15 is turned to the position shown in Figure 2, contact 21 engages one side of aperture 29 and makes electrical contact to member 15. As previously stated, member 15 is in electrical contact with body portion 10, so that selective electrical contact can be made between contact 21 and body portion 10 merely by the manual rotation of member 15 from one to the other of its angular positions. Portion 16 of member 15 is maintained in the aperture by the lips of the open top edge of body portion 10 adjacent the opening 11, and full rotation of member 15 is prevented by lever 17 contacting these lips. Later 17, of course, may have any desired configuration depending upon the actual drive used to operate the switch.

In the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, a fiat insulating member 22 is provided, and this member supports contact 21. The contact is inthe form of a threaded stud extending through member ZZ andafiixed thereto by a nut 24. The stud has ahead portion 23 disposed within aperture 20 and making selective electrical contact with member 15 in the previously described manner. A fiat metallic cover member 25 is also provided for maintaining member 15 within opening 11, and the cover member engages the side of body portion 10 remote from the insulating member 22. The cover 25, body portion 10 and insulating member 22 each have a pair of apertures extending therethrough, and the apertures are respectively aligned to receive a pair of electrically conductive eyelets 26, 27, which extend through these apertures. The eyelets have rolled-over ends and serve as a fastening means for the assembly. It is clear that any other suitable fastening means can be used to maintain the switch in an assembled condition.

The eyelets 26, 27 are in electrical contact with body portion 10, and, therefore, the switching assembly may be conveniently mounted on grounded frame structure by suitable bolts extending through the eyelets 26, 27 and the frame, with a lead to be grounded being attached to contact 21 by any suitable terminal means. Alternately, member 25 may have a bent-over integral flange 25a (Figs. 3, 4) formed thereon, with the flange having suitable apertures thereon to facilitate mounting on the grounded frame structure. With these mounting arrangements, the lead may be selectively grounded to the frame by operation of the switch in the manner described previously herein.

Under some circumstances, it is desirable that two distinct instrumentalities be grounded in unison, such as the double coil of the i nition system of a two-cylinder gasoline engine. As shown in Figure 5, the improved switching assembly of the present invention can be readily adapted to such use, merely by joining together a pair of switches such as shown in Figure 4, with their body portions 30 adjacent one to another. In the latter embodiment there is no need for the metallic cover plate 25, since each unit of the dual assembly functions to retain member 15 of the other unit within the respective openings 11.

As previously noted, the improved switch of the present invention is especially suited for use in conjunction with a power lawn mower 3G and such an arrangement is shown in Figure 6. The switch is mounted directly on the grounded side of the engine housing 31 of the mower, and it may be actuated by a cable 32 secured to lever 17 and extending up the handle of the lawn-mower to a con venieut control position. As previously stated, it is usual for power mowers to incorporate a magneto type ignition system, a portion of which is shown schematically in Figure 7. The ignition system includes a magneto 35 having a primary winding 36 and a secondary winding 37. The current produced in this primary winding is interrupted by a well known vibrator system 38 so that a high voltage can be induced across secondary 37. The con struction and electrical connections of the magneto are extremely well-known, and a detailed description herein is believed to be unnecessary. The switch of the present invention has its contact 21 connected to one side of the primary winding 36, and its eyelets 26, 27 are connected to the other side of the primary winding through the grounded housing 31 on which the switch is mounted. When the switch is in position shown in Figure l, the magneto generates a high voltage so that the gasoline engine may be operated, however, when the switch is in the position of Figure 2, the primary winding is shortcircuited so that no current is induced in the secondary and the engine is cut-otlf.

The invention provides, therefore, a rugged and simple switching assembly which may be fabricated with ease and simplicity. The various portions of the switch may be formed by simple stamping operations, and the switch may be assembled expeditiously by merely inserting the various components within one another in the manner described herein. Moreover, the switch is readily susceptible to constitute a dual unit in the manner shown in Figure 5.

While a particular embodiment of the switching assembly of this invention has been shown and described, modifications may be made, and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A switching assembly including in combination, an electrically conductive body portion having an opening therein, an electrically conductive member rotatably mounted within said opening and in electrical contact uith said body portion, said rotatably mounted member having an aperture therein eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis of rotation thereof, and a stationary electrically conductive contact member disposed within said aperture in said rotatably mounted member, said contact member contacting said rotatably mounted memher when said rotatably mounted member is in a first angular position, and said contact member being out of electrical contact with said rotatably mounted member when said rotatably mounted member is in a second angular position.

2. A switching assembly including in combination, an electrically conductive body portion having a substantially circular opening therein, an electrically conductive memer having a disc-shaped portion rotatably disposed within said opening and engaging the sides of said opening in electrical contact with said body portion, said disc-shaped portion having an aperture therein eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis of rotation of said disc-shaped portion, and a stationary electrically conductive contact member disposed within said aperture in said disc-shaped portion. said contact member contacting said disc-shaped portion at one side of said aperture when said disc-shaped portion is in a first angular position, and said contact member being concentrically disposed within said aperture and spaced from the sides thereof when said discshaped portion is in a second angular position.

3. A switching assembly including in combination, a fiat metallic body portion having a substantially circular opening therein which extends through one edge thereof, a fiat resilient member extending across said opening adjacent the side thereof remote from said edge of said body portion, a metallic member having a disc-shaped portion rotatably disposed within said opening in the plane of said body portion and engaging the sides of said opening in electrical contact with said body portion, said discshaped portion having a pair of fiat edges disposed at a selected angle with respect to one another and respectively engaging said resilient member upon rotation of said discshaped portion so as to retain said disc-shaped portion in respective first and second angular positions. said discshaped portion having an aperture therein eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis of rotation thereof, and a stationary electrically conductive stud disposed within said aperture in said disc-shaped portion, said stud contacting said disc-shaped portion at one side of said aperture when said disc-shaped portion is in said first angular position, and said stud being concentrically disposed within said aperture and spaced from the sides thereof when said disc-shaped portion is in said second angular position.

4. A switching assembly including in combination, a ilat insulating member. a fiat metallic body portion disposed adjacent said insulating member, said metallic body portion having a substantially circular opening therein which extends through one edge thereof, a fiat resilient spring member extending across said opening adjacent the side thereof remote from said edge of said body portion, a metallic member having a disc-shaped portion rotatably disposed within said opening in the plane of said body portion and engaging the sides of said opening in electrical contact with said body portion, said disc-shaped portion having a pair of flat edges disposed at a selected angle with respect to one another and respectively engaging said resilient member upon rotation of said disc-shaped portion so as to retain said disc-shaped portion in respective first and second angular positions, said disc-shaped portion having an aperture therein eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis of rotation thereof, an electrically conductive contact stud secured to said insulating member and extending therethrough, said stud having a head portion disposed within said aperture in said disc-shaped portion, said head portion of said stud contacting said discshaped portion at one side of said aperture when said disc-shaped portion is in said first angular position, and said head portion being concentrically disposed within said aperture and spaced from the sides thereof when said disc shaped portion is in said second anguiar position, and a fiat cover member disposed adjacent said body portion on the side thereof remote from said insulating member to retain said disc-shaped portion in said opening in said body portion.

5. A switching assembly including in combination, a fiat insulating member, a flat metallic body portion disposed adjacent said insulating member, said metallic body portion having a substantially circular opening therein which extends through one edge thereof and having a pair of opposing aligned notches communicating with the opening adjacent the side of the opening remote from said edge of said body portion, a fiat resilient spring member disposed in said notches and extending across said opening adjacent said remote side thereof, a flat metallic member having a disc-shaped portion rotatably disposed within said opening in the plane of said body portion and having a lever portion extending outwardly through said edge of said body portion in the plane of said body portion, said disc-shaped portion engaging the sides of said body portion and having a pair of flat edges angularly disposed with respect to one another and respectively engaging said resilient member upon rotation of said disc-shaped portion so as to retain said disc-shaped portion in respective first and second angular positions, said disc-shaped portions having an aperture therein eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis of rotation thereof, and an electrically conductive contact stud supported by said insulating member and extending therethrough, said stud having a head portion disposed within said aperture in said discshaped portion, said head portion of said stud contacting said disc-shaped portion at one side of said aperture when said disc-shaped portion is in said first angular position, and said head portion being concentrically disposed Within said aperture and spaced from the sides thereof when said disc-shaped portion is in said second angular position, a flat metallic cover member disposed adjacent said body portion on the side thereof remote from said insulating member, and electrically conductive fastening means extending through said insulating member and through said body portion and said cover member, said fastening means also serving as electrical contacts to said body portion.

No references cited. 

